Sunday, January 26, 2020

Differences on Reaction Time and Accuracy During Enumeration

Differences on Reaction Time and Accuracy During Enumeration Visual field differences on reaction time and accuracy during enumeration ABSTRACT This experiment tests the difference in performance of reaction time and level of accuracy between visual fields during enumeration. The results show that the left visual field has an advantage over the right visual field for reaction time and level of accuracy. However, the results of the repeated measures t-test found that there was a significant difference between visual fields for reaction time, but no significant difference for accuracy. Results show some support for our hypothesis that there are visual field differences in performances during enumeration. However, this experiment has to be further tested for validity. INTRODUCTION When people are shown an array of items, reaction times have been found to remain relatively constant till three or four items with few errors. However beyond that number, reaction times start to increase rapidly with more errors. This difference is known to be from subitizing and counting. The word subitizing was first introduced by Kaufman, Lord, Reese, and Volkmann (1949). Subitizing is the ability to know the sum of items without counting, with speed and accuracy. However, counting is a slower process, and used for larger array of items. Jackson Coney (2004) study examined 32 psychology undergraduates on enumeration. Their results showed support for differences between visual field on subitizing. There was no effect of gender or from hand used for response of answers. They found that there was a significant effect of visual fields on response times. There was faster reaction times and higher accuracy for the left visual field. They also found there were no significant beneficial effects of visual field on response time beyond 3 items. Participants had lesser errors in the left visual field than the right. Better performance in the left visual field is linked to processing in the right hemisphere. Also, a significant effect between visual field and number of items was found. The left visual field appears to have a better advantage when enumerating 2 to 4 items. They also found a significant effect of number of items, response time increased with number of items displayed. The largest increase in mean response time wa s between 2 and 3 items, and was highly significant. Accuracy also dropped as number of items increased. Nan, Knà ¶sche and Luo (2006) tested 14 right-handed, paid subjects on enumeration with an extra condition of distractors present. Their event related potential (ERP) was also recorded while they performed the experiment. Their results showed that reaction times generally increased with number of targets and distracter items. Further tests showed that there was a significant difference in reaction times between numbers of targets in each condition. Their results do not support the theory of subitizing and counting. In addition, there was no evidence of differences between accuracy rates and number of targets. There was also no evidence of hemispheric dominance in performance in subitizing or counting. This experiment will be examining difference in performance between visual fields, and reaction time on enumeration. This experiment is a modified replication of the Jackson Coney (2004) study, we will only be comparing data from 4 items and only from right handed participants. This experiment will aim to determine if their results of right hemispheric dominance can be replicated. This is useful as it would give a better insight about processes in the brain. My hypothesis is that there will be a difference in performance of reaction times and accuracy between visual fields on the task of enumeration. METHODS Design The independent variable is the visual field of the participant. There are two dependent variables, the response time, and accuracy of reponses. This is a within group design. A repeated t-test was used. Participants All 30 participants were voluntary, and are female psychology undergraduates. Participants were split into left and right handed group, but only the right handed group data were analysed. Apparatus Participants are seated in a cubicle room with adequate light with an Amiga 1200 microcomputer and 1084S monitor. This computer controlled the trial procedure, displaying and timing of stimulus and recorded results. The computer was linked to a monitor outside the cubicle, which displayed error and reaction time scores to the experimenter. Response is indicated by participants pressing 1 of 3 buttons, which correspond to the estimate of 3, 4 or 5 items shown. A chin rest was provided to ensure the participant’s head was 45 cm away and in the middle of the screen. Also, eye movements are tracked using a closed-circuit television system. Procedure Participants are seated in front of the screen and chin rest was adjusted to ensure they are at a relaxed and steady head position. Participants are first shown a blank screen (1000ms), and then a central cross appears for central fixation (1000ms). Stimuli are presented as black dots on a white background (150ms) and the blank screen reappears until they give a response. The whole cycle is repeated again. The number of stimulus ranges from 3-5. They were asked to indicate using fingers to press 1 of 3 buttons. The buttons correspond to 3, 4 or 5 number of items. Half of the participants were told to respond by pressing the button with their left hand and the other half were told to respond using their right hand. This is to control handedness response effects, however the responses from left handed participants are not analysed. Participants were also told to place index finger of their assigned hand above the â€Å"3† button and the other fingers on the other buttons. Before the real experiment started, participants are given 10 practice trial runs, but results are not taken into account and the experimental trial is followed immediately. For each trial, stimuli will have equal chance to be either shown on the left or right of the visual field. The locations of the stimuli are determined by randomly placing them in the slots of a theoretical 44 grid of the screen. Stimuli cannot be placed into neighboring spots in the grid. There are a total of 30 randomized trials. 10 trials will show 3 items, 10 trials will show 4 items and 10 trials will show 5 items. If an error is made, participants will hear the feedback from an auditory tone. Their reaction and accuracy of responses are recorded. Participants are told to estimate the number of stimuli on screen with priority on accuracy of response over speed. Only data from 4 item displays were analysed. RESULTS Mean reaction time for left visual field is 844.57ms (SD= 5.91ms), and 854.95ms (SD=6.27ms) for the right visual field. The average correct percentage for the left visual field is 84% (SD= 18%), and 86 %( SD=11%) for the right visual field. A repeated measures t-test was conducted to compare visual field and reaction times. There was a significant difference found, t (4) =6.29, p A repeated measures t-test was conducted to compare accuracy between visual fields. There was no significant difference found, and thus we have to reject our hypothesis. We cannot accept the research hypothesis. T (4) =0.172, p Graph 1: shows the mean of reaction times in ms between left and right visual fields. Graph 2: shows the mean of errors in percentage between visual fields. DISCUSSION The results from the repeated t-test for reaction times show that there are significant differences in the mean of reaction times between visual fields. The results from the repeated t-test for accuracy levels show that there a no significant differences in the mean average percentage of correct responses between visual fields. These results are supported by Jackson Coney (2004) study to a certain extent, they found that there was significant differences between visual field on reaction times and accuracy. Our study found that there were faster reaction times, higher accuracy for the left visual field. However the t-test found significant differences for reaction times, but not accuracy of responses. The results are in contradiction of what Nan, Knà ¶sche and Luo (2006) found in their study. They found that there was a significant difference in reaction times between numbers of targets in each condition. They also found no evidence of hemispheric dominance in performance during subitizing or counting. However, we did not analyze data between numbers of objects. We can only conclude that our findings show slight support for our hypothesis, as the overall findings do not fully support our hypothesis that there will be a difference between visual field on the task of enumeration. However, there is possibility that having significantly faster reaction time is due to strategies employed by participants unknowingly. Trick and Pylyshyn (1994) suggested that people use methods to help them estimate number of items, such as using patterns. This indicates that the differences in results could not be due to hemispheric dominance, but because of these strategies. In Nan, Knà ¶sche and Luo (2006) study, reaction times for with 6 items display had shorter reaction times compared to the 5 items. Study by Piazza, Mechelli, Butterworth and Price (2002) tested 9 male participants. Participants were shown a total of 32 different stimuli consisting of black dots on a white background. PET scans were also obtained during the experiment. Piazza et al. (2002) PET scans showed that areas linked to object recognition were activated in both canonical and without canonical arrangements. It suggests that pattern recognition was used in all conditions. These studies suggest that ther e was evidence of participants using pattern recognition to count items. As a result, these data could skew our data as the differences in reaction time could be due to other factors such as pattern recognition that aid in enumeration. Enumeration requires the assimilation of information received from visual stimulus has to be integrated first before it can be understood. According to this theory, the process would speed up if the visual stimulus is presented in one visual field. However, Delvenne, Castronovo,Demeyere and Humphreys (2011) propose an alternative hypothesis. They propose that high level tasks perform better when there is bilateral visual field presentation. Their study found that visual enumeration has fewer errors when the items are shown in two visual fields rather than in a single visual field. This bilateral field advantage is seen when more than four items are shown. The authors suggest that this effect is only seen when the task becomes too taxing for our attention. Further tests should also include results with gender being controlled for, and compare results between unilateral processing and bilateral processing of enumeration. Also, this experiment has threats to external validity as there is sampling bias. It cannot be generalised to the population, because only women participant data was taken into account. Also, if we are testing for visual field differences the results would be skewed if we only take results from the right handed participants. Previous studies such as Bourne and Todd (2004) have shown that handedness does affect hemi field bias in processing. As such, we can propose there could also be a processing bias for enumeration. In conclusion, the results have found that there was significant difference between visual fields for reaction times but not for accuracy of responses. The results suggest that there is some support for our hypothesis that there are differences in performance between visual fields during enumeration. However, further study should be done to check for validity of study. REFERENCES Bourne, V.J. Todd, B.K. (2004). When left means right: an explanation of the left cradling bias in terms of right hemisphere specializations, Developmental Science, 7, 19-24. Delvenne, J.-F., Castronovo, J.,Demeyere, N. Humphreys, G.W. (2011). Bilateral Field Advantage in Visual Enumeration. PLoS One, 6, e17743. Retrieved March 24, 2014, from http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0017743. Jackson, N. Coney, J. (2004). Laterality: Asymmetries of Body, Brain and Cognition. Brain and Cognition, 9, 53-66. Kaufman, E.L., Lord, M.W., Reese, T.W. Volkmann, J. (1949). The Discrimination of Visual Number. American Journal of Psychology, 62, 498–525. Nan, Y., Knosche, T. R., Luo, Y.J. (2006). Counting in everyday life: Discrimination and enumeration.  Neuropsychologia, 44, 1103–1113. Piazza, M., Mechelli, A., Butterworth, B. Price, C.J. (2002). Are Subitizing and Counting Implemented as Separate or Functionally Overlapping Processes? NeuroImage, 15, 435–446. Trick, L.M. Pylyshyn, Z.W. (1994). Why are small and large numbers enumerated differently? A limited-capacity preattentive stage in vision. Psychol Rev, 101, 80-102

Saturday, January 18, 2020

General Profile City of Kelsey

The City of Kelsey is a very eco-friendly community. Their goals were to provide a safer environment for their community. They wanted to encourage their quality of life with health lifestyles and efforts for the environment. They have organic gardens, and orchards. They really focus on natural resources and preservation. The type of work in the City of Kelsey is a consulting firm, trucking company, organic fruits and vegetables, and a construction company.The prime shipping company is Huffman trucking which ships there organic, fruits and vegetables. Kelsey gardens runs a restaurant and have positions available in the vacationing season. They also have a construction company that helps Jobs become available for the residents of Kelsey such as construction, contracting, designing and engineering. The community of the City of Kelsey has an annual balloon fest every year, and a monthly farmers market for the community. They also partake in the St.Patrick's Day Parade, craft fairs, and a memorial softball tournament, and an annual 10K marathon. The residents of the City of Kelsey are very involved in their community and there are lots of activities for all. The members of the community really pull together to make things happen and keep everyone going. They also have a post office that offers shipping and mailing services for the residents. There medical center allows you to get the proper care when you need it.The responsibilities of the people of the City of Kelsey is to let the community now that they focus on continuously improving and making the City of Kelsey a happy place for all. There are so many opportunities at the City of Kelsey whether it's finding employment or Joining the small or large businesses of the community. Each member of this community puts all efforts to making sure that they keep their community clean and help everyone developing a healthy lifestyle.The responsibilities of the community to their individuals are to let them feel like they c an e comfortable and involved in their community. They offer numerous activities to bring everyone closer together as a community and at the same time they are having fun and staying healthy. As a member of this community being socially responsible would consist of volunteering my time and efforts to be a part of this community and do whatever it takes to keep it going strong and help come up with fresh new ideas for the community to grow and become a part of.

Friday, January 10, 2020

How Is the Current Recession Acting Like

How is the Current Recession Acting like/unlike the Great Depression Nowadays, the economy of the world plunges into an awkward situation. The entire world meets a global economic crisis or recession, especially in the United States. After World War , this recession is the biggest recession for the America. Most of people express worried about this recession; absolutely they recall the memory about the Great Depression which was the most enormous economic crisis in the American history. They are anxious because it seems like the United States is going through another Great Depression or will go through another Great Depression. From the history, everyone knows how serious the result came out from the Great Depression; it baffled human beings’ development. No one wants to see another Great Depression happen again. However, there are sufficient reasons to support public people to worry about the Great Depression will happen again, because present recession and the Great Depression, both of them have some similar characteristics. Meanwhile, both of them have much unlike points also can prove the Great Depression will not happen again. In this paper, I will compare and contrast the current recession and the Great Depression, I will prove the current recession causes the effects will much less than the Great Depression, and the Great Depression will not replay. Back to 1929~1933, on October 29 1929, the â€Å"Black Tuesday† came to the United States. On this day, American financial world crashed, the stock’s price fell from top to bottom, fell 40 percentages from 383, also the Dow Jones stock index fell 22 percentages(Baidu, 2009). From this date to November 13th 1929, there was thirty billion disappeared in the market, this number equal to the total expenses of World War?. However, the crash of the stock market was just the beginning of a horrible economic crisis. Even through the Great Depression began at the collapse of the stock market; many experts still thought the influence from the collapse of the stock market was limited, because stock was just a little part of family’s property, it cannot affect Marginal Propensity to Consume(MPC) very much. However, the â€Å"Black Tuesday† was merely the beginning of the terrible issue, was just miniature of the Great Depression. The Great Depression caused a bunch of extremely serious social problem, for example, there were about 2 million to 4 million students had to drop their school. Even some people could not suffer the pain from mentality and physiology then suicide. The most significant problem was that 8. 3 million people lose their job; the unemployment rate reached such a high level which was 25%(Xu, 2009). Almost in every city, the poor people who were in line at the food bank as long as to several blocks. By the end of 1932, totally, there were about 2 million people roamed in the streets, there were no home for them. In September 1932, magazine Fortune estimated that 34 million people had no income; this population was 28% of the whole population of the United States. And at least 15 million people were looking for a job, but there was no job offer to them at that time (Baidu, 2009). Change the view to the economy. At the beginning year of the Great Depression, since the economy became weakness, it was hard for bank to get back of their loan, and the public people were anxious so that they went to the bank to withdraw their deposit. Therefore, at that time 50% was closed. The government took conservative measure, decreased the money supply so that more and more banks had to be closed. Consequently, 9000 banks had already closed and 130 thousands enterprises went to bankrupt. The total output of industry and nation income (NI) decreased 50%, the trade price of goods reduced one third and merchandise trade also cut two thirds (Techcn, 2009). In 1920s, the people’s confidence of the forward economy was expressed in the stock market. From 1921 to 1929, Dow Jones Indexes increased from 75 to 363, average growth rate (AVGR) was 21. 8% which was an incredible number (Su, 2009). Under this prosperous situation hided possibility which can cause the Great Depression. At the beginning of 1929, the stock market of United States of America was crazy, the price of stock raised times by times. As I mentioned before, rather than say black one day, I would like to say black week or black month. On October 24th 1929, the market of New York exchange suddenly got a crash, the speed of falling stock price too quick to catch up by the ticker. Even though some consortiums and the president came out to try to save the market, it did not work. On October 28th and 29th 1929, Dow Jones Indexes fell 38. 33, 13. 47% and on Tuesday fell 11. 73% (Black Tueday, 2002). During this short week, American people lose 10 billion dollars in stock exchange. Time went to the middle of November 1929, the stock’s price in New York Exchanges fell 40%, lose 26 billion dollars. Millions of public people lose their whole life’s money. During the Great Depression, the stock price of US steel fell from $262 to $22, and the stock price of GM fell from $73 to $8 (Techen, 2009). Gross domestic product (GDP) fell 25% during 1929-1933, and Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) of 1933 decreased 24. 6% compared to 1929 (Hexun,2009). â€Å"In economics, a recession is a general slowdown in economic activity over a long period of time, or a business cycle contraction. During recessions, many macroeconomic indicators vary in a similar way. Production as measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employment, investment spending, capacity utilization, household incomes, business profits and inflation all fall during recessions; bankruptcies and the unemployment rate rises. †(Wikipedia, 2009). This is the definition of the recession. Compared to the Great Depression, we can figure out some similarities. For example, GDP, employment, and investing spending fall in the current recession or the Great Depression. In current recession, GDP fall 2%, unemployment rate is 8. 1%, and Dow Jones Indexes decrease 52 % (Xu, 2009). From these data, we know that in current recession for the society, many people lose their jobs, also many enterprises go to bankrupt as well as some banks. For the stock market, the Dow Jones Indexes can tell us that the stock market do not in a nice situation. For the whole country, GDP fall so that American economy gets into recession. However, if we take a close look at these numbers, we can see these numbers are different from the Great Depression. As I mentioned, during the Great Depression, GDP fell 25%, unemployment rate was 25%, and Dow Jones Indexes fell 89%. These numbers in current depression are much smaller than the Great Depression; therefore, these numbers prove that the current recession effect will much less than the Great Depression. Reason of the current recession and the Great Depression is different. The current recession is caused by the subprime mortgage crisis. â€Å"The subprime mortgage crisis is an ongoing real estate crisis and financial crisis triggered by a dramatic rise in mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures in the United States, with major adverse consequences for banks and financial markets around the globe. The crisis, hich has its roots in the closing years of the 20th century, became apparent in 2007 and has exposed pervasive weaknesses in financial industry regulation and the global financial system† (Wikipedia, 2009). The subprime mortgage crisis happened because of moral hazard. From our textbook we understand that the risk that one party to a transaction takes actions that harm another party called moral hazard. About the reason of the Great Depression, it seems like the stock market’s crash lead to the terrible issue, but the real reason is the unbalanced or unhealthy development of the economy. The strategies from the government to deal with these two issues are different. During the Great Depression, the Federal Reserve did not get the right strategy to deal with the market less liquidity, on the other hand, the current U. S. government decrease the interest, create some new strategies to activate the market, also try their best to save the economy. Also, the current government takes out 700 billion dollars to save banks and insurance companies. Totally, government plan to use 787 billion dollars to stimulate the economy and increase 3. 5 million chances of employing (Xu, 2009). Consequently, the Great Depression will not replay. However, even we can predict the current recession’s effect will less than the Great Depression, we also need pay enough attention to the current recession. In fact, the entire world’s economy is not a good condition, what we need to do is not just the save the economy but also prevent the recession happen again and again.

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Public Value - An Important Concept for Public and Nonprofit Organisation - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1126 Downloads: 3 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Finance Essay Type Research paper Level High school Did you like this example? Public Value an important concept for public and nonprofit organization in relation to competing values, reforms and results Gulf Investment House(GIH) Contents Introduction: Public Value: Measuring Public Value: Competing Values Framework: Competing value framework and GIH: Conclusion: Bibliography Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Public Value An Important Concept for Public and Nonprofit Organisation" essay for you Create order Introduction: Gulf Investment House is a financial service company. In 1998 Gulf Investment house was found. GIH is a shareholding company located in Kuwait.KD 44.2 million is the subscribed and paid up capital to list the company on the Kuwait stock exchange. Reputed Kuwaiti financial institutions and individuals are the shareholders of GIH. GIH has invested in the USA and other markets. Adel Al Subaih is the chairman of GIH. Bader Al Ali is the CEO of Gulf Investment House. (wikipedia, 2013) Public Value: Over the past ten years the concept of public value attracted many policy makers.The desires to maximize the shareholders value in the private sector is known as public value.Public value is designed to get the opinion of the public managers to improve the service or performance of an organization. Through many different ways public values are created.Public value approach helps to improve the decision making quality in an organization.In order to promote trust in public organizations and to meet the rising expectations of the customers, organizations are making public managers to engage with their customers and the public.Public sector alone does not create public value. Private sectors, nonprofit organizations, informal community and goverments generate the outcomes of public value.Politicians and public managers are responsible to explain what they do to the public. (Coats, 2013) Legitimacy and support,public value and operational capabilities are linked with each other.Publi c value is generated in nonprofit organizations by serving as missions.With the help of the relationship with the public sector, nonprofit organization also contributes to the attainment of public value. Nonprofit organizations generate public value by bridging the gap between public policy formulation and implementation of the policy. Towards financial performance and efficiency public value is less weighted. Legitimacy and support,public value and operational capabilities are linked with each other.The public managers should imagine and made a vision that can command legitimacy and support and which can be operationally done in the domain in which they are responsible. (C.Mendel, 2012) The process of answering what question is known as what question.Create answers how question.It specifies how public value can be continuously improved.Sucess question is answered by measuring the public value. (Coats,2013) Measuring Public Value: When people re-elect a politician it is understood that he was a successful leader during his reign. For public managers and staffs they have to develop a clear measure of success. For public managers it is difficult to know whether they have met the objectives of their organization. Public value can be measured using the following factors. Collectivity Security Trust and legitimacy Autonomy Personal utility Without trust and legitimacy other factors are not possible.Communal interest and altruistic values are included in collectivityInvalid source specified. Factors Measures Trust and legitimacy Complaint levels, surveys conducted among shareholders and public, audit inspection analysis Collectivity Measuring social outcomes(education,poverty,etc),active co-production,measures of effective partnership Security Measures resilience,reliability,service standards,equity,cost and efficiency. Personal Utility Measures of flexibility,quality of service The public value of GIH is measured and the complaint level received from the customers is low. Shareholders and the public do not lose their trust on GIH. GIH is also taking part in many philanthropic activities,GIH is also providing standard service to its customers with low cost.The quality of service offered by GIH is also found out to be high. Competing Values Framework: In 1980s CVF emerged from public sector organizational effectiveness held at the State University New York. Based on the assertion of CVF, organizations of human are shaped by two fundamental contradictions. The two fundamental contradictions are: the desire for flexibility and autonomy Vs the need for control and stability the focus on internal control and needs Vs responsiveness to the external environment The two dimensions namely internal-external and flexibility-control produce four quadrants. At different times organizations may exhibit different tendencies in each quadrant. Public administration concentrate more on the control quadrant rather than any other quadrant.Based on a survey conducted among the civil servants from Thailand and USA, it was found that Thai civil servants were strong in collaborate quadrant whereas the USA civil servants were found to be strong in control quadrant. (Talbot, 2013) Internal External Flexibility Collaborate Knowledge Community Create Growth Innovation Stability Control Quality Efficiency Compete Profit Speed The proxies of control are asset turnover and gross margin.EVA and change in EVA growth are the proxies for compete. Sales growth and standard deviation in market model are the proxies for create.The proxies for collaborate are future growth values and sales or number of employees. (Talbot, 2013) Competing value framework and GIH: CVF is used to find out the reforms carried out in organizations. CVF is applied to Gulf Investment House.The pattern of reforms carried out in GIH under each quadrant is given below: Control: Strategy and business planning Financial management HR management Information system Management Performance measurement Compete: Quality customer service Agentification Regulatory reform Collaborate: Quality customer service Create: Openness Transparency Accountability From the above it is clear that GIH mainly concentrated on the reforms in the control quadrants.Much smaller efforts were made in the other three quadrants. So it is recommended for Gulf Investment House to concentrate on the reforms in other quadrants also.When GIH concentrates equally on the four quadrants, it can achieve a remarkable success. Conclusion: Many policy makers are attracted towards public value concept because public value approach helps to improve the decision making quality in an organization. Public value approach also increases the efficiency and performance of an organization. The public value in Gulf Investment House is measured on the basis of Collectivity, Security, Trust and legitimacy, Autonomy and Personal utility.When CVF is applied to GIH it was found out that GIH concentrated more on the reforms in the control quadrants.GIH can concentrate equally on the four quadrants to achieve a remarkable success. Bibliography C.Mendel, S., 2012. How non profit organizations create public valu. pp.1-30. https://urban.csuohio.edu/publications/center/center_for_nonprofit_policy_and_practice/Mendel-Brudney_NPF_Submission.pdf Coats, D., 2013. Public Value: The next steps in public service Reform. The work foundation, p.62. Coats, D., 2013. Public Value: The next steps in public Service Reform. the work foundation, p.60. Talbot, C., 2013. measuring public value:A competing values approach. the work foundation, p.24. https://www.theworkfoundation.com/downloadpublication/report/202_measuring_pv_final2.pdf wikipedia, 2013. wikipedia. [Online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_Investment_House [Accessed 6 march 2014].